Megson laments relapse

By Ron Gubba

12:01AM GMT 01 Mar 2004

West Brom (0) 0 Rotherham (0) 1

West Brom's indifferent home form threatened to undermine their hopes of automatic promotion before a run of eight matches unbeaten at The Hawthorns - the last three consecutive victories - suggested that the problem had been overcome.

However, with the opportunity to draw level with League leaders Norwich ahead of tomorrow night's clash between the two at Carrow Road, it returned with a vengeance on Saturday.

Gary Megson, their manager, lamented: "I don't think there's one player in the whole 11 who we could say was 100 per cent today. What they have to learn is that you've got to really want promotion and you've got to push yourself that extra bit to get it."

The malaise was exemplified by the way the West Brom players appeared to lose heart after 35 minutes of almost total domination had yielded no reward. Rotherham sensed their opportunity and almost exploited it shortly before half-time, when Mike Proctor was only inches off target after Andy Monkhouse had dispossessed Neil Clement to set up the chance.

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Until recently, Megson was a firm believer in playing three at the back and it was surprising he did not revert to that strategy from the start against opponents whose priority is invariably to get men behind the ball. By the time that he did so, following a triple substitution early in the second half, the psychological advantage had been surrendered.

Rotherham again went close to taking the lead when Russell Hoult made a point-blank save to deny Shaun Barker. They finally went ahead in the 73rd minute, when Chris Sedgwick ended a mazy run with his first League goal since the opening day of last season.

In a frantic finale, Jason Koumas had a splendid free-kick touched on to the crossbar by Mike Pollitt, while substitute Sean Gregan poleaxed team-mate Andy Johnson with a ferocious goalbound volley, as West Brom slipped to their third home defeat.